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March 28, 1933. H. H. woTHERsPobN A 1,903,081

' LINEMANS BELT Filed Aug. 7, 1931 m m N w 1% 9f0Z6f5/90026 Patented 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I HENRY E. wormsroou, or LAWRENCE, mssacnusn'r'rs, ASSIGNOB r IA'I'HIAB xrmirw'sons, or cmcnao, armors, A. oonronarron or mom Lmmrms BEL-r Application fled August 7, 1931. Serial in. 555,710.

minimize danger of electric 'shock tothe wearer, and afford to the wearer a high de 'gree of safety.

It is a further obj act to provide a linemans belt with a plurality of plies of leather, having the plies stitched together and having the D rings secured to one .of the plies.

A further object is to provide a multi-ply' leather belt having parts secured thereto by rivets which pass only part way through the belt and thus prevent accidental short circuits through the belt to the body of the lineman. t

A further object is to provide an improved linemans belt in which a portion thereof is o conformed comfortably to support the lineman, and made of-a leather which will absorb perspiration.

A further object is to provide an improved linemans belt in which the strain is normally carried by one ply of the belt but in which the other ply of the belt serves asga reserve safety belt in the event that the first. ply should tear.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the belt;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the outside of the belt Figure 3 is a similar view of the inside of the belt; and I Figure 4 is a longitudinal fragmentary sec tional view taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

The belt of my invention comprises generally two portions, the back support 10 and the strap 12. The back support is composed of a sheet 14, which is preferably latlgo leather and the shape of which is indicated nerally in Fig. 3, the ends of which are lded back as at 16 about a metallic eye 18. A suitable reinforcing strip 20 is inserted between the portions 14 and 16 and a wedgeshaped piece of leather 22 is inserted between the sides of the reinforcing leather 20 to make unnecessary any sharp bends in the leather.

A pair of rivets 24 secure the metallic eye pieces 18 to the sheet 14 and the reinforcing strip 20 and the leather fillers 22. D rings 23 are pivoted in the eye pieces 18, these rings preferably being integral forgings and having rectangular-shaped openings 25 formed therein.

The strap portion of the belt comprises an outer strap 26 made of a heavy bark tanned flexible leather, one end carrying the usual buckle 28 and the other endbeing suitably perforated forcooperation with the buckle. A lming strip 30, preferably of latigo leather,

is stitched to the end of the strap 26 which carries thebuckle 28 and a similar linin 32 is stltched to the perforated portion of the strap 26. Latigo leather has been. found to be very satisfactory for the lining, since it is soft and pliable and since, due to its high degree of porosity, its moisture absorbing property is much more pronounced than that of ordinary leather.

The ends of the strap are of uniform width but the intermediate portion which fits about the back of the wearer is of increased width, tapering gradually as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The widened portion of the strap is stitched to the back support 14 not only at. its marginal edge, as indicated at 34, but also at its ends, as indicated at.36. It will be strap 12, but not through the back su port 10.

From the above description it wi appear that when the belt is in normal use, the strain is transmitted from the D rings to the ends of back support '14, which thus carries substantially the whole load. The strap 26 of,

course flldS in sustaining and su porting the I back support 14 by virtue of the act that it is stitched thereto. If, however, the back su port 14 should tear or otherwise give way, a

D rin will still be secured to the belt and total ailure of the belt thus prevented.- The D rings will merely slide, along the strap proper and continue to support the lineman.

It will be observed that none of the metallic rivets passes completely through the belt at a place where it might come into contact with the body of the wearer. This construction has considerable value when the belt is being used by electricians working on high voltage lines where there is danger of electrocution should a rivet cause a contact between a source of high potential current and the linemans body.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention many modifications may be made without depart- ,15 ing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A linemans belt comprising a strap having a taperin widened mid-portion'ada ted to fit about the back of the wearer, a col: support of relative soft, porous material secured inside said widened portion of said strap,said back support bein of substantialthe same shape as the wi ened portion of 1 the strap, and fastening means secured at the,

ends of said back support whereby a sub= stantial part of the strain placed upon the belt is sustained by said back support.

2. In a linemans safety belt, the combine, support of relative soft, porous material soouring it about the wearer and having a widened back portion, a back support of relatively soft, porous leather forming an inner lining for the widened back portion of said stra and having metallic eyes secured at the en s thereof, and D rings having portions pivoted in said eyes and having a slot through which said strap extends.

3. A linemans belt comprising a main strap having buckle means for securing it about the wearer, a back support having its central portion of considerably greater width. than its ends and decreasing gradually width from said central portion to its ends, said back support being stitched to said belt and having loops at its ends, said loops being formed by turning back the extremities of said back support rivets securing the bent back portions to the support, D rings pivotal ly joined to said back support by engagement in said loops, said D rings slidably embracing said strap, a tool holding band, and rivets fastening said band to said strap, said rivets being prevented from contacting with the body oi the wearer by said back support, and said rivets securin said loops being prevent ed from contact with electrical conductors by means or" said strap 4. In a safety belt, the combination oi strap having buckle means for securing "h strap about the body of the wearer, a wid back support of relatively soft material stitched to said strap and having metallic eyes at its ends, said support being tapered in width from its mid-portion to its extremities, and a pair of D rings pivoted in said eyes and slidably mounted on said strap whereby the major portion of the strain is normally carried by said back sup ort and upon tearing of said back support it e D rings will support the wearer by their sliding engagement with said strap.

5. A linemans belt comprisin a strap having a widened mid portion a apted to fit about the back of the wearer, a back supporting and perspiration absorbing member secured inside said widened portion of said belt, and conforming enerally to the shape thereof, said member icing of substantially the same shape as the widened portion oi the belt, D rings secured at the ends of said mem her and embracin said strap, whereby a substantial portion oi the strain placed upon the belt is normally sustained by said member, but upon rupture of said member the strain will be carried by said strap.

6. In a linemans sat ety belt, the combination of a strap having buckle means for securing it about the wearer and having a widened back portion, a back support of latigo leather, conforming generally to the shape of said portion, forming an inner lining for the widened back portion of said strap and thread stitched thereto, said back. support having metallic eyes secured at the ends thereof, and D rings having portions pivoted in said eyes and having a slot through which said strap extends.

7, in a safety belt, the combination of a strap having buckle means for securing the strap about the body of the wearer and haw ing a widened back portion, a back support or leather of relatively great porosity stitched to the widened back portion of said strap and having metallic eyes at its ends, a pair of D rings pivoted in said eyes and slidably mounted on said strap whereby the major portion of the strain is normally carried by said back support and upon tearing of said back support the El rings will support the wearer by their engagement with said strap.

- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of August, 1931.

HENRY H, WOTHERSPOUl-l.

7 Seal) CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,903,081. March 28, 1933.

HENRY H. WOTHERSPQON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 32, claim 2, strike out the words "support of relative soft, porous material" and insert instead the syllable and words "tion of a strap having buckle means for"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

